LOADING AID

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport unit for articles of daily use in a hold of an aircraft according to claim 1.

[0002] Such a transport unit is provided with a base body having a cover side and a base side, a plurality of rolling elements which protrude from the cover side, connecting elements arranged on the front side of the transport unit for the detachable connection of two transport units in each case, and with non-slip elements arranged on the base side.

[0003] To load and unload a hold in the bow of an aircraft, conveyor belts are typically used to transport the baggage between a transport vehicle and the hold's hatch. From there, the baggage must be transported by hand to the rear of the hold to fully utilize the aircraft's cargo space.

[0004] From the prior art, aids are known in which a conveyor belt with an extension is provided as a movable arm, which projects into the hatch of the hold and has a bend over a short distance, which feeds the luggage items at least part way into the interior of the hold.

[0005] However, this solution is quite expensive and problematic, especially with smaller aircraft, regarding the maneuverability of the arm in the hold.

[0006] EP 0 8387 / 28841 discloses a roller mat comprising a number of interconnected roller trays with rollers for carrying goods moved along the mat, one feature of which is to attach the roller trays individually to a flexible base plate made of rubber or rubber-like material.

[0007] JP H06 234406 shows a plate with rollers.

[0008] US 6,039,288 teaches a floor unit for use as part of the cargo deck of an aircraft to facilitate the loading and repositioning of cargo. The floor unit consists of a hollow profile with a continuous cover surface and a lifting surface arranged parallel to the cover surface. The cover surface and the floor surface are separated from each other by several profile webs running in the longitudinal direction of the floor unit. The cover surface has a plurality of receiving openings for receiving ball elements.

[0009] US 2017 / 217561 discloses a system, method, and apparatus for a cargo handling system equipped with a ball mat. In one or more embodiments, a method for transporting cargo over a stepped threshold and into an inclined compartment comprises moving the cargo over the stepped threshold and onto a ball mat located in the inclined compartment, wherein the ball mat is arranged in a substantially horizontal position.

[0010] The present invention aims to provide assistance for ground personnel during loading and unloading of an aircraft hold, which can be adapted to the individual circumstances of the different aircraft types and improves the ergonomics for ground personnel in the confined spaces of the aircraft hold.

[0011] This object is achieved according to the invention by a device having the features of claim 1.

[0012] Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0013] A transport unit can preferably be of a manageable size, allowing a single person to easily place it in the confined space of the aircraft fuselage. By stringing together several of the transport units according to the invention, an individual transport path for baggage can be created within the hold of the aircraft fuselage. This allows baggage to be easily moved from the cargo hatch area over several meters with minimal effort, reducing both the physical effort and the time required to load the aircraft.

[0014] Typically, luggage is moved inside the aircraft's fuselage over the bare metal floor. Due to the enormous friction losses, considerable force is required to transport the luggage from the luggage hatch to the furthest reaches of the fuselage.

[0015] The rolling elements arranged according to the invention on the base body of the transport unit, which protrude from the cover side of the base body, reduce the friction losses and thus also the effort required when moving the luggage.

[0016] As the hold is unloaded, the available storage space gradually increases as the load decreases. This means that ground staff must penetrate deeper into the hold to access the additional baggage.

[0017] In order to bridge the distance formed between the luggage and the loading hatch, one of the transport units according to the invention can be joined together to form a continuous transport path with successive unloading of several of the transport units,

[0018] For this purpose, connecting elements arranged at the ends of each transport unit are provided for detachably connecting two transport units. This allows the transport track formed to be supplemented or shortened as required by the situation, so that ergonomics for ground staff are ensured at all times.

[0019] Preferably, a transport unit has a length of 40 cm to 120 cm, preferably 60 cm to 100 cm, and a width of 20 cm to 100 cm, preferably 60 cm to 80 cm. This ensures that a single element, i.e., a transport unit, is large enough to be transported and deployed by a single person in the confined spaces of the hold without undue effort.

[0020] Particularly preferably, a transport unit has a square or at least rectangular shape.

[0021] The rolling elements protruding from the top of the base body have the function of reducing the friction between luggage and the support surface.

[0022] The connecting elements can connect the individual conveyor units to each other with a positive and / or non-positive fit, forming a mobile conveyor belt that can be flexibly adjusted in length and position on the aircraft fuselage. The conveyor belt can also be referred to as a roller conveyor.

[0023] The connecting elements can also be provided to form a ball-socket connection between adjacent conveying units, wherein a part of the connection (ball (joint) / socket) can be arranged on each of the adjacent conveying units.

[0024] In particular, in order not to unduly hinder ongoing operations during loading and unloading of the aircraft fuselage, the detachable connection between the transport units can be overcome in a simple manner, for example by moving individual transport units relative to one another, such as lifting one of the transport units relative to a connected transport unit.

[0025] The non-slip elements arranged on the bottom side of the conveyor units preferably prevent, on the one hand, an undesired displacement of the conveyor belt formed from several conveyor units and, on the other hand, a relative displacement of individual conveyor units connected to one another, whereby, depending on the type of connecting elements, a connection between two conveyor units could be undesirably released.

[0026] Preferably, the at least one non-slip element stabilizes the conveying units and / or the conveyor belt formed from the conveying units in a selected position on the floor of the aircraft fuselage, which may be made of a metal, in particular aluminum, for example.

[0027] Preferred developments of the present invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0028] According to a preferred development of the present invention, the rolling elements are provided so as to be recessed relative to the floor side, i.e., they do not protrude beyond it. According to the present invention, it may be expedient for the rolling elements to protrude from the surface of the base body only on one side, namely the top side, thereby preparing them for contact with luggage. Preferably, the rolling elements are recessed relative to the opposite floor side of the base body, whereby they do not protrude from the surface of the floor side. This can be beneficial for a stationary arrangement of the transport units in a selected position on the floor of the hold.

[0029] It can expediently be provided that at least two rolling elements have a coaxial rotation axis. The conveyor unit can also be provided with a plurality of rolling elements arranged side by side, which can thus be arranged in rows of rolling elements on the base body of the conveyor units.

[0030] This distributes the bearing friction of the piece of luggage relative to a single bearing shaft for a rolling element, which can further improve friction reduction and the mobility of the piece of luggage relative to the transport units.

[0031] Preferably, the base body comprises segments mounted so as to be movable relative to one another parallel to the rotational axis of the rolling elements, whereby the base body itself is designed to be rollable. Between the individual rotational axes of the rolling elements or between the groups of coaxial rotational axes of rolling elements or between higher-order groups of mutually parallel rotational axes or groups of rotational axes, the base body can have a joint region which is aligned parallel to the axes or the groups of axes, thereby providing overall dimensional flexibility of the base body.

[0032] The segments, which are mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, can provide a rolling capability of the base body parallel to the individual rotation axes of the rolling elements and / or have interconnected sections forming a common joint axis.

[0033] Particularly preferably, the movable mounting of the individual segments / conveyor units relative to one another is enabled from a planar alignment of the base body(s) relative to one another in one direction and prevented in an opposite rotational direction. This allows the base body to be rolled up in one direction, but additionally prevents the individual segments of the base body from shifting / twisting relative to one another in an unfavorable manner, which would cause unwanted, for example, pyramid-like elevations to disrupt the planar alignment of the base body.

[0034] Preferably, a torsion of two adjacent segments transversely to the rolling direction of the base body, i.e. transversely to the respective joint axis between two segments, is prevented by a torsionally rigid connecting axis / joint axis between the adjacent segments.

[0035] In principle, the transport units can be made of hard rubber or contain significant amounts of hard rubber. Receiving recesses can be provided in the surface of the transport units, which can have a keyhole-shaped design, at least in some areas. The individual rollers / roller elements can be retractable / arranged in the receiving recesses for operational purposes. Furthermore, the shafts / axles of the individual rollers can be secured therein. To secure the shafts / axles of the individual rollers, the keyhole-shaped design can be provided at least in the end regions of the shafts / axles in the receiving recess.

[0036] Adjacent rollers, whose rotational axes may be aligned approximately coaxially with one another (i.e., rollers arranged side by side), may be spaced apart from one another, thereby providing a gap between the individual rollers / rolling elements (rows of rollers). Consequently, a plurality of rollers, i.e., roller elements, may be arranged on a conveyor unit in rows in which the rotational axes may be aligned approximately coaxially with one another. Furthermore, individual rows of rollers may be aligned parallel to one another. This allows for a flat distribution of rolling elements across the surface of the conveyor.

[0037] According to the present invention, the gaps between the rollers / rolling elements / rolling bodies in the individual rows are provided at the same location, whereby slots formed transversely to the rotational axis of the rollers can be provided across a plurality of rows of rolling elements. These slots extend parallel to the transport direction or unrolling direction of the rolling elements and can represent corresponding regions in the rotational direction of the rollers in which no rolling elements are provided. Preferably, at least one slot, preferably 3, 4, 5, 6 or more slots, is provided, which are formed from the plurality of gaps between the rolling elements in the individual rows.

[0038] According to the invention, the conveyor line / conveyor belt / conveyor device, which can also be referred to as a conveyor system, comprises at least one plate element or tray supporting a utility item / piece of luggage. The tray can preferably have a width that is equal to or less than the width of the conveyor line or the conveyor units forming the conveyor line. The same can also apply to the length of the trays.

[0039] It is particularly preferred that the location and distance of the slots on a conveyor unit from one another is the same for at least two adjacent, preferably all, conveyor units of the conveyor line.

[0040] According to the invention, the tray / plate element has, on its underside facing the conveyor line, at least 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or more elongated protrusions / rails, which are aligned parallel to one another and whose spacing is adapted to a distance between at least two of the slots / gaps between the rolling elements. The spacing between the protrusions / rails can thus be adapted to the spacing between the slots of the conveyor units. This allows the protrusions / rails to engage (together) in the slots, whereby the protrusions / rails can be guided in the slots as the trays roll on the rolling elements.

[0041] Preferably, the elevations / rails are designed to be less than the height of the rolling elements protruding from the surface of the transport units. This ensures unhindered rolling of the tray on the rolling elements of the transport units.

[0042] The gaps can therefore be formed by two adjacent rolling elements in a row of rolling elements. The slots can be formed by several gaps arranged one behind the other in the rolling direction of the rolling elements in parallel rows of rolling elements.

[0043] Several slots on a conveyor unit can be aligned parallel to each other and / or orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rolling elements.

[0044] The spacing between the plurality of slots and the spacing of the elongated protrusions on the underside of the tray / plate element may correspond to each other.

[0045] A plurality of transport units and at least one tray can form a transport system.

[0046] According to a particularly preferred development of the present invention, it is provided that the base body is arranged in a frame.

[0047] This frame can further stabilize the desired alignment of the base body by preferably reducing or eliminating the flexibility of the base body, at least temporarily.

[0048] In principle, the frame can also be provided with connecting elements for connecting transport units.

[0049] Preferably, the frame surrounds the base body at least circumferentially and fixes it.

[0050] According to an expedient development of the present invention, the connecting elements are designed to complement one another. This can particularly relate to the geometric configuration of the connecting elements and their orientation. For example, hook elements can complement each other geometrically to form a connection between two conveyor units. The hook elements on opposite end faces of the conveyor units can, for example, be arranged identically but mirror-inverted to one another, thereby providing a simple, positive connection for adjacent conveyor units.

[0051] However, according to the present invention, complementary can also mean that hooks are provided on one side of the transport units and, for example, eyelets or other receptacles for the hooks are provided on the other side. Complementary connecting means can also be pins and corresponding recesses for receiving the pins on opposite end faces of the transport units. Functional complementary connecting elements can also refer, for example, to a hook-and-loop fastener with hook elements on one side and nonwoven or fabric elements on the other side, which can be engaged with the hook elements.Functional complementary connections can also be, for example, magnetic connections, wherein a magnet is provided on one of the end faces of the transport units and a further magnet attracting the first magnet or a metallic, for example ferromagnetic, counterpart is provided on the opposite end face.

[0052] It is particularly preferred that the connecting elements are designed to be complementary to one another.

[0053] It is expediently provided that the connecting elements have oppositely oriented holding areas or hooks which are designed to engage with each other in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

[0054] According to a particularly preferred development of the present invention, it is provided that the connecting elements form magnets and / or Velcro connections.

[0055] According to the present invention, a method for loading an aircraft hold with cargo by means of a conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 9 is also described, in which a conveyor belt is operatively delivered to a loading opening on the aircraft, wherein the conveyor belt afterward on the floor of the aircraft hold a transport unit / transport line for cargo, displacement-resistant / slip-resistantis arranged, the transport unit having a flat base body with a top side and a bottom side, a plurality of rolling elements which protrude from the top side and form a contact surface for the everyday objects to be moved on and relative to the transport unit / transport line, wherein the transport unit / transport line is aligned with the rolling direction / axis of rotation of its rolling elements approximately longitudinally to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, that cargo is delivered via the conveyor belt to the top side of the transport unit / transport line in the aircraft hold, that cargo already located on the transport unit is displaced in its position in the close vicinity of the conveyor belt by cargo from the conveyor belt and is thereby displaced further along the transport unit into the aircraft hold. Preferably, the displacement of cargo on the transport units is provided manually or by the thrust of the conveyor belt.

[0056] Particularly preferably, at least one further transport unit is aligned and / or coupled in the same way to the transport unit, preferably via connecting elements arranged on the front of the transport units, and the load is displaced from the transport unit adjoining the conveyor belt to the at least one further transport unit by the load following from the conveyor belt. Several transport units can form a transport line.

[0057] In the area between the conveyor belt and the first subsequent loading aid, an input element / transition piece can be arranged, forming a transition from the conveyor belt to the loading aid. This can be a conveying device aligned in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt. The direction of rotation of the rollers of this conveying device is therefore preferably aligned with the conveying direction of the conveyor belt.

[0058] The input element / transition piece may have a shortened length in the rolling direction of the rollers of the input element compared to the transport units.

[0059] At the end of the transport units arranged next to one another, i.e. at the end of the transport facility / transport line, another height-adjustable conveyor belt can be arranged, which can assist the ground staff in the final positioning and stacking of loads.

[0060] The input element can be detachably connected to the first conveyor unit for better positioning. For example, a locking or hook connection can be provided between the input element and the first conveyor unit.

[0061] To transfer the conveyor belt's feed forces to cargo located on the conveying device, a guide device, for example a guide plate or a comparable device, preferably vertically raised relative to the base body of the conveying element, can be arranged in the area, particularly on the first or second conveying element or on the input element / transition piece, which guides the cargo in its transport direction relative to the longitudinal alignment of the conveying device. The guide plate can describe a curve of, for example, approximately 90°, along which the luggage can be deflected from the first or second conveying element or the input element / transition piece to the further conveying elements in its transport direction.

[0062] The guide device can comprise an arrangement of rollers or rolling elements, each configured with a vertically oriented axis of rotation. The rollers or rolling elements can be arranged in an arcuate configuration relative to one another, or at least along an arcuate configuration. The arcuate configuration can mirror the change in transport direction from the conveyor belt and / or the first conveying element to the conveying devices aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft, i.e., the actual conveying device / conveying line. The arcuate configuration can approximately accompany a 90° change in the direction of transported goods / luggage from the conveyor belt to the conveying device or conveying device / conveying line.

[0063] As a guidance device, an employee can also be provided in the transition area between the conveyor belt and the transport device, for example, who supports the load in its change of direction.

[0064] The conveying direction of the conveyor belt and the transport direction of the load on the conveyor system do not have to be parallel or aligned. The conveying force or the feed rate of the conveyor belt can be redirected / reorientated with respect to the transport direction of the load / luggage by the guide plate, i.e., a deflection device. Load following the conveyor belt and reaching the conveyor system can displace preceding load in the direction of extension of the conveyor system.

[0065] A change in the movement / force vector experienced by the cargo during transfer from the conveyor belt to the transport device is assisted or mediated by the deflection device, for example the aforementioned guide plate. Instead of a guide plate, the cargo can also be manually moved from the first transport unit, which is opposite the conveyor belt, towards the second and subsequent transport units towards the end of the conveyor belt, thereby freeing up the first transport unit for further baggage to follow. This method eliminates the need to manually move the baggage individually through the entire hold of the aircraft, as the pieces of baggage can be easily moved deeper into the hold by lining them up on the transport device and each time moving the last piece a short distance.

[0066] According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that a guide device deflects the baggage located on the transport line by means of subsequent baggage from the baggage conveyor belt from the conveyor belt direction into an extension direction of the transport line and pushes it further into the aircraft hold.

[0067] An embodiment of the present invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] The drawings show: Figure 1 shows a side cross-sectional view through the transport unit according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the top side of the transport unit according to the invention and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the bottom side of the transport unit according to the invention

[0069] Figure 1shows a cross-sectional view through the conveying unit 10 according to the invention with a base body 20 which has connecting elements 30 at both ends. According to the present embodiment, the connecting element 30 can be formed from a hook element, which can preferably have a recess 31 and an elevation 32.

[0070] These are aligned in opposite directions with respect to the two ends of the base body 20 and are preferably complementary to one another, so that the connecting elements form a positive and / or non-positive connection between two conveying units 10, in which the hook elements of adjacent conveying units 10 engage with one another. Preferably, the recess 31 and the elevation 32 can have the same length (A / B), which can be beneficial to a positive connection between connecting element 30 and adjacent conveying units C. Preferably, the connecting elements are provided to connect adjacent conveying units to one another flat and advantageously without height differences.

[0071] The thickness of the recess 31 can correspond to the height difference between the elevation and the cover side of the transport unit 10.

[0072] The recess 31 and the elevation 32 can together form a hook element as a connecting element 30.

[0073] Figure 2 shows a perspective top view of the transport unit 10 according to the invention. This has a plurality of rolling elements 40 on its surface, which protrude beyond the surface of the cover. This can provide a rolling friction reduction for the luggage items moved via the transport unit 10 upon contact with the rolling elements 40. The rolling elements 40 can be provided at least in the area of the transport unit 10 that is in contact with luggage items. This can, in particular, be a central or lateral area of the surface of the cover between the connecting elements.

[0074] The individual rolling elements 40 can be arranged in rows aligned transversely to a longitudinal axis of the conveyor unit 10. The longitudinal axis can extend between the two connecting elements 30 of the conveyor unit 10.

[0075] Figure 3 shows a bottom side of the transport unit according to the invention. As can be seen from Figure 3 As can be seen, the rolling elements preferably do not protrude from the floor side of the transport unit, which enables a stationary fixing of the transport unit 10 in a floor area of an aircraft hold

[0076] To improve the stationary fixation, at least one non-slip element 50 can be arranged on the bottom side, which provides increased friction / adhesion or an adhesive effect with respect to a substrate, e.g. in the hold.

[0077] Instead of the Figures 1 to 3In addition to the hook-shaped connection shown as the connecting element 30, magnetic connections, Velcro connections, hook-eye connections or other reversible connection options can also be provided, which allow two adjacent transport units to be connected or disconnected quickly and efficiently in a simple manner.

Claims

1. Flexibly adjustable transport system for relocating items in a hold of an aircraft, comprising at least two transport units jointly forming a transport surface, each having a base body (20) with a top side and a bottom side a plurality of roller elements (40) which protrude from the top side and form a contact surface for the items to be moved on and relative to the transport lines, and preferably connection elements (30) arranged on the front side of the transport unit for detachable connection of two transport units (10) each. characterized in that gaps between the roller elements (40) in the individual rows are provided at the same position, thereby creating slots formed across multiple rows of roller elements transverse to a rotation axis of the roller elements (40), that the transport system has an item-carrying plate element or tray and that the tray or plate element has on its underside facing the transport system at least two elongated elevations which are aligned parallel to each other and whose spacing is adapted to a distance between at least two of the slots / gaps between the roller elements (40).

2. Transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that the roller elements (40) are provided recessed relative to the bottom side, i.e. do not protrude beyond it.

3. Transport system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two roller elements (40) have a coaxial rotation axis.

4. Transport system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the respective rotation axis of the roller elements is spatially fixed, preferably aligned parallel to the connection elements.

5. Transport system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rotation axes are aligned parallel to the opposing front sides of the at least two transport units.

6. Transport system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base body (20) has segments that are movably mounted parallel to the rotation axis of the roller elements (40), whereby the base body (20) itself is designed to be rollable.

7. Transport system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the base body (20) is arranged in a frame.

8. Transport system according to claim 6, characterized in that the frame surrounds the base body (20) at least on the perimeter and fixes it.

9. Transport system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the connection elements (30) have oppositely oriented holding areas or hooks which are designed to interlock in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

10. Method for loading and unloading an aircraft hold using a transport system according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transport system is reversibly arranged in the hold for the loading or unloading process, which is laid out on the floor of the hold, wherein the transport units are reversibly assembled into the transport line in the aircraft hold and wherein the luggage items are pushed directly or indirectly over the roller-equipped surface of the transport line during loading and unloading to guide them to their destination, characterized in that the transport system is shortened as needed when loading the hold, so that the transport line extends approximately to the respective end loading area of the hold and is extended as needed when unloading, in order to be able to feed luggage lying further inside the hold to the transport line with little effort.

11. Method for loading according to claim 10, characterized in that a luggage conveyor belt is positioned at the hatch of the aircraft hold, that the transport line is connected to the luggage conveyor belt, whereby subsequent luggage from the conveyor belt pushes luggage already on the transport line further into the aircraft hold.